Lumber stacker



March 15, 1960 Filed Feb. 25, 1957 D. E. MOSELY LUMBER STACKER 7Sheets-Sheet 1 INVIINTOR. 00/24// 5 4/054 Malrch 15, 1960 n. E. MOSELY2,928,559

LUMBER STACKER Fil ed Feb. 25. 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- fiaoa/d 7#032 4 March 15, 1960 D. E. MOSELY 2,

LUMBER STACKER Filed Feb. 25, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 15, 1960 D.E. MOSELY LUMBER STACKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1957 $1. QQ V 3INVENTOR.

March 15, 1960 D. E. MOSELY LUMBER STACKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb.25, 1957 y m m x K5 mM M m o a m D March 15, 1960 D. MOSELY LUMBERSTACKER I '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 25, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

flo/m/d AT 4/0564 United States Patent F LUMBER STACKER Donald E.Mosely, Spokane, Wash, assignor to Bitco Inc., Spokane, Wash, acorporation of Idaho Application February 25, 1957, Serial No. 642,022

Ciaims. 01-. 214-6 The present inventonreiates toximprdv'e'ineiits inmeans for stacking lumber, andmoreparticularly to improvements in meansfor inserting' spacing' Sticks between sucof small spacing sticks whichhold the layers apart and i provide ventilat-ing'passages through] thestack, thereby exposing both the upper and lower surfaces of the boardsof the stack to the drying air.

It is to the provision means for forming these ventilated stacks oflumber that this invention is directed. It is the principal purpose ofthe invention to provide means for receiving boards froma source ofsupply,

gathering them together in layers, and depositing the layers on thestack being formed, and means to insert beneath each layer as it isstacked, a plurality of spacing sticks to hold the layer spaced abovethe layer below;

A further purpose of the invention is'to provide means for insertingspacing sticks beneatheach successive layer of boards in such a way'asto avoid the possibility of breaking the sticks while they and "thelayer of boards thereon are being placed upon the stack.

Still another purpose of the invention is toprovide such a stackingdevice which will so spread the boards of each layer during placementthereof as to construct a stack having uniform width throughout,regardless of the varying dimensions of the boards therein.

The nature and advantages of my invention will appear more clearly fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein apreferred form of the invention is shown. ever, that the description anddrawings are illustrative only, and are not intended to limit theinvention, except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view ofthe delivery end of a lumbertransporting chain, showing my invention in place to receive boardsfromthe chain and form them into a drying stack.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 33 of Figure 2, and illustrating the mounting of the stackcarrying platform;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6of Figure 2;

It should be understood, howice Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 8-8of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9of Figure" 6;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one ofthe spacing stick racks;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the meansfor'supporting the racks; I

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view showingrpart of the mechanism showninFiguretl-l, but in an adjustedgposi tion; and

Figures l3, l4, and 15 are somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating theoperation of the stick placing means; Referring now to the drawings, andto Figures 1' and 2 in particular, my invention is shown as placed atthe delivery end of a lumber transporting chain conveyor generallyindicated at 15. The conveyor 15 may be of a any suitable type, and maybe part of a lumber stack break down system, or merely a green chain?upon which green lumber is transported from thefmill. AS shown, theconveyor 15 comprises two spacedapart chains 15a and 15b which .run inchannels16 upona framework 17. At the delivery end of the conveyor 15,the, chains 15a and 15b travel around sprockets18 mounted on a shaft19journalled at the end" of theframework 17. The lumber transported by theconveyor 15 is placed thereon with its longest dimension trans verse tothe direction of travel, as shown in Figures; 1

and 2, and is moved by frictional engagement withthe I chains 15a and15b. 7

Itis the purpose of this invention to receive thelumber at the deliveryend of the conveyor 15, form it' into layers, and stack the layers intoa ventilated drying stack. In order to form the boards into layers to bestacked, I provide at the end of the conveyor 15,'apair of lugged chains2%) and 21 extending parallel tozand between the chains 15a and 15b, asbest shown in Fi'giife 2. The lugged chains 26 and 21 are trained arounddrive sprockets 22 mounted on a shaft 23 journalledin the framework 17,and around idler sprockets 24 mounted on a shaft 25 journalled inbearings 26 which extend outwardly a short distance beyond the end ofthe cofiveyor 15. The lugged chains 20 and 21 are driven by a drivechain Zi'whieh is trained around a sprocket The mounted on the shaft 23as shown in Figure 2. drive chain 27 is driven by a motor 28.

. As shown in Figures 1, 13, 14, and 15 the logged chains 20 and 21 arepositioned slightly below thetop flights of the chains 15a and 15b sothat boards traitsported by these chains are not engaged with thelug'g'ed chains 20 and 21.

so that one of the lugs 29 and 39 on each chain 20 and His positioneddirectly above the idler sprocket 2.4. in this position, the lugs willprovide a stop at the end of the conveyor 15 against which the boardsthereonwill pile up. u The other lug 29 or 30 will be positioned belowthe level of the conveyor 15 as shown iri Fi'giire 1 so that it does notinterfere with progress of the board's.

With this construction, the boards, travelling on the can 1 veyor15 aregathered at the delivery end to rona a The lug chains, however, each.carry two upstanding iugs 29 and 31) which are spaced r apartequidistantly on the chains 20 and 21. As shown in the drawings, thechains 20 and 21 are positioned therefrom. Supporting legs '34 supportthe rear portion of thehorizontal frame 33. Between the'I-beams 31 and32 and the conveyor frame 17, a stack supporting platfoin'i 35 isprovided. As best illustrated" in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the platform 35 iscomposed of'two spaced apart transversely extending beams 36 and 37which'are tied together near their ends by cross beams 38 and 39-.

ers 67 of each setrid e'between the flanges of the channel irons 63-66and are connected by a short axle 68. The

axles 68 are mounted in bearing 69 which arein turn fixed AIplura'lit'y'of load bearing rollers .40. are mounted be tween the beams36 and 37. A motor 41 is also mounted on the. platform 35 'below thelevel of the rollers 40 and is drivingly connected to the rollers 40through drive chains. 42; .The purpose of this construction is toprovide means for moving a completed stack away from the stacking meansto prepare the device for building a new stack. .Wh en a stack iscompleted, the motor 41 is energiz'ed, and the rollers 40 shift it fromthe platform 35.

:"JThexplatform 35 is mounted for vertical movement, for 1 the purposeof maintaining a constant level for the top of the stack being formedthereon, as the stack grows.

As best illustrated in Figures 2' and 3, the rear transverse framemember 36 of the platform 35 is considerably:

heavier than the front beam 37.. Connected to this rear to blocks 70mounted upon a transverse T-beam 71. The beam 71 is, as shown in Figure5, composed of an I-beam 71a and a channel 71b. With this construction,the T- beam 71 is mounted for'free movement toward and away from thedelivery end of the conveyor 15. The T-beam 71 has fixed thereto threetransversely spaced and longitudinally extendingisticker,carrying arms.The arms 72 are composed 0f inverted channel irons having bottom webs 73and upstanding flanges 74. The sticker carrying arms 72 extendsforwardly from the beam 71 as illustrated in Figure 6 and are supportednear their front ends upon spool shaped rollers 75 which, as shown inFigures 6 and 7, are journalled between spaced apart plates 76 and 77that depend from the forwardmost transverse beam 60 of the frame 33. Thesticker carrying arms 72 ride upon the rollers 75andbetweenthe plates 76and 77; Thus,if the T-beam 71 is moved forward, the sticker carryingarms 72 will be extended over the platform 35.

frame member adjacent of the uprights 31 and 32 aretwo mounting arms 43by which the platform-35is mounted to. the uprights 31 and 32 forvertical movement thereon. Each mounting arm-.43, as shown best inFigure 3, comprises two spaced apart plates 44 secured to the rear beam6 .36 of the platform 35 and extending upwardly and rearwardlyon eachside of the adjacent upright 31 or 32. A roller .45is journalled betweenthe free ends of the plates 44 and bears against the upright 31 or 32. Asecond roller 46, mountedin bearings 47 secured to'the beam 36 ,betweenthe plates 44, bears against the opposite face .of the upright 31 or 32.It will be readily seen that this construction mounts the platform'tothe uprights 31 and 32 for vertical movement thereon.

= 1 In order to move the platform up and down on the uprights 31 and 32,and to provide for supporting it in any desired position, a pair ofhoisting and lowering chains'48 are provided. As best shown in Figures 1and y :3, one end of each chain 48 is secured to the rear platets 50mounted atop the uprights 31 and 32. From the,

idler sprockets50, the chains 48 extend downwardly and beneath drivesprockets 51 mounted on a shaft 52 which:

is journalled on diagonalbraces 53 which form part of the support forthe framework 33. The shaft 52 has a glarge sprocket 54 thereonwhichreceives a drive chain 55 .that is connected to a reversible motor56. The hoisting and lowering chains 48 extend from the sprockets 51aroundidlers 57 and58 shown in Figure l, and thence ,the motor 56through the chains 48." Braking means (not upwardly, to the platformcarrying arms 43 where they are secured as shown at 59 in Figure 3. Withthis construction, movement of the platform35 is controlled by shown)are provided with the motor 56 to hold the plat- .form in any adjustedposition.

.In order to transfer a layer of veyor 15 to the platform 35, and toinsert spacing sticks, or stickers as they are known in the industry,beneath the successive layers, a unique mechanism is'utilized and willnow be described; l

boards rroiii'ihe sat.

The arms 72 are ofsucha length that when fully extended(the length oftheir travel being limited by engage: ment of the beam 7 1;with therollers 75) they will span the'space between the conveyor'15 and theframework 33 shown in Figure 1. During their extension, the arms 72 aresupportedsolely by the beam 71 and its rollers 67 and by thespoolrollers75. Upon' reaching the frame work 17 of the conveyor 15,however, the forwardeuds of the arms 72'engage with and ride uponshortinclined ramps 78 which are fixed on the framework 17. Thus, whenfully extended, the arms 72 are supported at both ends. a 7

To movethe beam 71 .and arms 72, in the manner just describedflprovide apair of driving chains 79 "trained 89, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, sothat when the motor 88 is energizedto drive the chains 79 in onedirection, the beam 71 and the arms 72 will be moved forwardly over theplatform 35, and when the motor 88 is energized in the other direction,thebeam 71 and, arms .72 will be withdrawn; under the frame 33;

The function of the arms-721 is to receivestickers such as indicated at,90 from afsourc'e of supply,- carry them out over the platform 35 wherea layer of boards can be deposited thereonfas hereinafter described, andthen deposit thernland their load, on the platform 35. In order tosupply stickers to the arms .72, vI provide three sticker carrying racks91 which are mounted on the frame 33 directly above the arms 72. As bestillustrated in Figure 10, each of the racks 91 comprises two spacedapart,

slongitudinal; angle irons 92 and, 93 which are connected 60.

at their ends to front and rearvertical; channel members 94 and "95.Vertical side posts 96 are also provided to The horizontal frame 33 iscomprisedof three spaced.

apart transverse beams 60, 61 and 62, which are joined together by fourlongitudinally extending channel irons,

,mounted in pairs near the opposite ends of the beams 60462. The pair ofchannel irons near the left ends of the beams -62 are indicated bynumerals 63 and 64.

.The pair at the opposite ends of the beams 60-62 are indicated bynumerals and 66. Each pair ofsaidchannel irons is arranged so that theflanges ofthe -channel irons of each pair face each other, as shown inFigure 4.

The channel irons 63 and 64 and the channel irons 65 and 66 form twosets of rails, each adapted to receive a pair of rollers 67 as shown inFigures 4 and 5. The rollkeep the stickers confined in place.The-stickers 90 are stackedin the racks 91 as illustrated injthedrawings,

with the bottommos't "sticker '90 resting upon the memas bers 92 and 93,An aperture 97 is provided in the front wall 94of the rack 91 throughwhich the stickers 90may be withdrawn one at'a time..

best illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, the normally held, by means whichwill bedescribed hereinafter, in such a position that thebottom angleirons 92 and 93 are positionedslightly above the bottom webs 73 of thecarrying. arms-72, and between the upstanding flanges 74 thereon. Thus,the bottom sticker 90 in each rack 91 is positioned :within, the arm 72.In orderto withracks are i over thez'plat'form 35; each arm. 72-has;mounted therein; an elongated, upstanding lug 98 which is secured to-thebottom web 73; The lug. 98 is in width, a dimension slightly less thanthe distance between the angle irons 92 and 93 of' the racks 91 andextends highenough from the web 73- to' engage thebottommost sticker 90in the rack 91 when the rack 91 is in operative position. As indicatedat 99 in the drawings, a notch is provided in the rear wall 95 of eachrack 91 to allow the lug 98 toenter.

The lugs- 98' are positioned in the rear portions of the arms-72 so thatwhen the arms'72 are retracted beneath the frame 3-3, thefront edges ofthe lugs 98 are behind thesticker racks 91. As the arms 72 are movedforward by operation of the motor 88; thelugs 91 pass through theapertures 99 in the rear walls 95 of the racks 91 between the angleirons'92 and- 93 thereofiand engage the bottom most sticker 90' ineachrack. Gontinuedforward movement of the arms 72 causes the stickers90so en gag ed; to be slid through thefront dispensingapertures 97and-dropped onto the arms 72. In this. manner, thearms 72 receivestickers 90 each time they move forwardly. Toprovide for depositing thestickers 90 upon the platform 35 when the arms 72 are retracted, a .dogor pawl 100 is provided as illustratedin Figures 6,7 and 9, above eacharm 72. The pawls 100 are fixed to sleeves 101 which are rotatablymounted'on shafts 102' secured bet-we'enthe' plates 76 and 77 whichmount tliespoolv rollers.

' as hereinbefore described. When the arms 72 are fully 75. As shown inthe drawings, the pawls llliiilarel so arranged as to ride overcarriedout by the arms 72, and then drop behindthe stickers when theyhave passed. To permit the pawls to cliop. behind the stickers 90-,they, are bifurcated as shown} at 103 so. as to fall on either side ofthe lugs 98. When the pawls 100ffall behind the" stickers 90, theyprevent the stickers from returning, with the arms 72,. and causethem-tobe deposited on the platforrh35.

the stickers 90 as theyare.

In building stacks on the platform 35 from lumber transported on theconveyor 15, it isoften-desirable to insert stickers 90 onlyoccasionally, and sometimes not at all. This is accomplished by thepresent invention by mounting the racks 91- in such a manner that theymay he supported above the racks- 91' for vertical movement so as to' bepositioned either in operative position as hereinbefore described, orraised an inch or so. above that position so that the lugs 98 in thearms 72 do not extract stickers as they move. thereunder. Themechan'isin for accomplishing. this will next be described.

As'illu'strated in the drawings,.the racks 91 are slidably received invertical rack guides 104 and 105 which are mounted in the frame 33. Thefront rack guides 104 are mounted between the plates 76 and 77 whichcarry the roller 75. The rear guides 105 are mounted by braces" 106.that extend forwardly from the transverse beam 61. Back of the racks 91is provided with a pair of shaft" supporting ears 107 in which a shaft108 is journall'ed, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The" shafts 1'08extend a short distance beyond the racks 91 at each end and have liftinglugs 109 keyed thereto at the ends. The lugs 199 are positioned aboveand rest upon the transverse" beams 60 and 61 to support the racks 91 inthe guides 104 and 105. When the lugs are allowed to lay flat; as shownin Figure 11, they support theracks 91 in" operative position fordispensing stickers 90. However, if the shafts 193 are rotated a fewdegrees in a direction to. pivot the lugs 109' downwardly, the racks 91will be lifted, aswis illustrated in Figure 12 to an inoperative'position above the arms 72. To accomplish this rotation of the shafts108, and to lift all of the racks 91 in unison, I provide a liftingshaft 110 which extends adjacent to and parallel to the transverse beam61 and which is journalled in bearings 111 fixed to the beam 61.The'shaft 110 has levers 112 fixed thereto adjacenteach of the racks 91.The shafts 108 on the racks '91 have raise and lower the sticker racks91 at will during operation of the machine. If the racks 91 aremaintained in raised position, then no stickers will be fed,. and thelayersof boards will be moved onto the arms 72' and thence stacked onthe platform 35 without stickers 90.

If the racks 91 are lowered, stickers will be inserted in the stackbetween each course or layer of boards. It can be seen that by timedmanipulation of the cylinder 115, the operator can build a stack withstickers between every course of board, or between every other course,or inany combination desired.

The operation of the device to form boards transported by the greenchain conveyor 15 into a. ventilated drying stack is as follows: First,a base layer of boards is laid on the platform 35, or if desired, apallet may. be laid thereon to receive the stack to be formed. When thishas been done, the motor88 is operated to extend the arms 72 until theyengage the ramps 78 as shown in Figures 1 and ll. As the arms 72 areextended, each.

withdraws a sticker from a rack 91 and carries it out extended, thestickers 90 will be positioned above the platform 35, and the pawls willhave dropped behind them as shown in Figure 13. The platform 35 willthen be raised, by operation of the motor 56, until the base layer orpallet thereon ispositioned immediately below the arms'72. The luggedchains 20 and 21 will be adjusted to bring the lugs 29 of each intoposition directly above the idler sprockets 24. The several elements arethen allowed to remain at rest while boards on the conveyor 15- areallowed to pile up against the lugs 29. The boards are allowed to pileup until the layer extends back to an indicating mark 117 painted on theframe 17. When enough boards have piled up to form a layer for the stackto be formed, the operator energizes the motor 28 to drive the luggedchains 20 and 21 forward. This action carries the lugs. 29 around theidlers 24 and out of position to stop the boards, and carries the lugs30- up behind the layer of boards as shown in Figure 12 to push thelayer onto the stickers 90 held on the' arms 72. When the lugs 30 reachthe stop position originallyoccupied by the lugs 29, the motor-28 isstopped. As shown in Figure l, the layer of boards will then bepositioned upon the arms 72 and sticker 90. When, the boards have beenpushed onto the arms, 72, they" are retracted to deposit the stickers.9'0 and the layer of boards on. the platform 35. While this is occurrina new layer of boards is being piled up behind the lugs 30 on the chains29 and 21. As soon as' the arms 72 have retracted, the platform 35 isdropped a few inches to give clearance, and the arms 72 are againextended, carrying new stickers 90 from the racks 91. The platform 35 isthen readjusted to bring the top of. the previously deposited layer ofboards immediately below the arms 72, and the process of moving the nextlayer. of boards onto the arms 72 is begun.

In most instances, the boards delivered by theconveyor .15- will not besorted or sized, sothe layersiwill not be of'uniform width. Even so, itis desirable to construct the ventilated stack so that its side edgesare substantially uniform. To accomplish this, the boards must be placedupon the stack so that line outside boards of each layer are a uniformdistance apart. To provide for placing the boards. on the stack in. thismanner; I construct the sticker carrying arms 72 so that the sideflanges 74 thereof are tapered downwardly near the front end asillustrated'a't 118. At the front end of each arm 72, the fianges'74"are of a height substantially less than the thickness of the stickers90,- so that the assesses stickers 90 protrude thereabove. A shortdistance back, the flanges 74 taper upwardly as shown at 118 to a heightgreater thanthe thickness of thestickers 90. I With this constructionthose boards near the front of the arms 72 rest upon the stickers 90,while those near the opposite end of the layer rest upon the flanges 74ofthe arms 72. When the arms 72 are retracted to deposit the stickers 90on the platform 35, those boards rresting upon the stickers 90 will bestopped when the stickers 90 'are stopped by the pawls 100. The boardsresting on the flanges 74, however, will continue t'o'move with the arms72 until they engage stop bars 119 which ,are provided at the front ofthe platform 33 to define the rear load line of. the stack on theplatform 35. As shown in Figure 12, these stop bar's119 are aligned withthe pawls 100 so that the boards carried back by the arms 72 are stoppedin proper alignment stickers 90, to make a clean stack. With thisconstruction,'both the front and rear sides of the'stack are madeuniform, and any spacing in the layer of boards is left at the center ofthe layer. 1

The processof moving successive layers of boards onto the platform 35"and placing spacing stickers 90 therebeneath is continued as abovedescribed until the stack attains the desired height. When thedesired-number oflayers have beenplaced thereon, and the platform 35 islowered. to ground level. The

motor 41 is then' energized to drive the rollers4 0 to move the stackfrom the platform 35,

it is obvious that provision for 'whole operation of the watch theformation stop lugs 29 and 30 and the process is repeated.

While I have described the operation of my invention was manuallycontrolled,

as though each element thereof automatic or semi-automaticoperation maybe made. For example, by the provision of suitable switches and timedelay mechanism, the device may be made automatic, depending only uponthe presence of a single operator to of each layer ofboards behind theand trip a starting switch for the motor 28 when a complete layer ofboards is formed.

Switch means may be provided to automatically stop the 'motor 28 whenthe chains and 21 have driven far enough to move the layer onto thewaiting arms 72 and with the rear of 'the' the device, is stopped witha-board transporting conveyor having a delivery end, a framework mountedframework, means operatively connected with said arms to removespacing'sticks from said supply means and deposit them on said arms asthe arms are moved toward the conveyor, means to transfer boards fromthe con 'veyoronto the sticks while the sticks are supported onsaidarmsand while the arms are extended over the stack supporting means,and means to discharge said sticks and boards thereon onto the stacksupporting means as the arms are moved away from the conveyor.

2. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination and away from saldconveyor and said stack supporting 'means, spacing stick holding racksmounted on said framework above said arms, spacing sticks supported insaid racks, each of said racks having a slot in'the bottom thereofextending parallel to the arm thereunder, lug means on said armsoperable to pass whenthe arms are moved forwardlyand engage a spacingstick in each rack and remove it from said rack onto the arm whereby tocarry said stick over the stack supporting means, meanstocollect boardsonsaid' conveyor -bring the next lug 29 or 30 into stopping position.Ad-

be provided to automatically ditional switch means may the platform 35,bring the retract the arms 72, drop arms 72 back, and readjust theplatform upon operation of the chains 20 and 21. The provision of suchantomatic control means is well 'within the skilled electrical engineer.1 It is believed evident ing ventilated lumber stacks. in such a manneras to manner of placing the] stickers vention providesa simpleandefficient, device for form- The' mechanism operates form anon-uniformity of board widths, and due to the unique from defectivestickers are considerably reduced. Ithas been found that uneven'stickersand even split or cracked fstickers can be effectively used with.difiiculty.

my device without "It isbelieved that the nature and advantages of myinvention appear clearly from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

from the foregoing that my, fin

purview of the l,

' 3. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination with aboardtransporting conveyor having a delivery end,

a framework mounted adjacent the delivery end of said conveyor, astacksupporting platform positioned between said conveyor and saidframework, means to raise and lower said platform; a plurality ofspacing stick carrying arms mounted to said frame for movement towardand away from the conveyor,means to move said arms over the platformtoward the conveyor and away from the conveyor and the platform, rampmeans mounted adjacent the delivery end of the conveyor and operable to.engage and support thearms when they are moved toward the conveyor,stick holding racks mounted on the framework above the arms, meansoperatively connected .w1th said. arms to remove spacing sticks fromsaid racks and deposit them on thearmsas the arms are moved clean stackregardless of 90, the difficulties arising 1. Lumber stacking 'meanscomprising, in combina- 'tion with a board transporting conveyor havinga delivery 7 end, a framework mounted adjacent the delivery end "of saidconveyor, vertically movable stack supporting means positioned betweensaid framework and the con-,

toward ,the conveyor, layer forming and'transferring .means mountedadjacent the delivery end of the conveyor .operable to gather boards ontheconveyor into layers and transfer the layersonto the sticks carriedby said arms when the arms are engaged with said ramps, and means toengage said sticks and prevent them from moving with the arms as thearms are moved away from the conveyor whereby to deposit the sticks andboards thereon onto the platform. 7

4. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination ,with a boardtransport ng conveyon a stack receiving platform mounted ,at thedelivery end of said conveyor,

means to raise and lower saidplatform, a framework .adjacent saidplatform, mounted in said framework spacing stick carrying means formovement toward and away from said conveyor rneans to move said spacingf stick carrying means toward the conveyor overthe platveyor, means toraise and lower said vertically movable means, a plural ty ofspacingstick carrying arms mounted tosa id framework'for movement,toward and away from the eonveyon mean'stomovesaid arms toward theconveyor over the vertically movable stack supporting means an aw y smsa ommand id Stack eas n n means, spacing stick supply means mounted onsaid form, and to withdraw said spacing stick carrying means away fromsaid conveyor and from over the platform, spacing stick dispensing meansmounted in saidf ra'mework, means to remove spacing sticksfrom thedispensing meansand deposit them on the spacing stick carrying means,whereby to be carried over the platform, board transferring meansmounted adjacent the delivery end of through said slots tli'econveyor'andoperable to gather boards on the con veyor'into layers andtransfer thelayers onto" the spac ing sticks carried on saidcarryingmeans whensaid carrying means'is extended over the platform; and meansto engage the spacing sticks and prevent. them from moving with thecarrying means when said means is withdrawn from over theplatformwhereby to deposit said sticks and'the' boards thereon on the platform.

5. Lumber stack forming means comprising. the" combination with a boardtransporting" conveyor of' a" stack receiving platform mounted at thedelivery end of the conveyor, a plurality ofhorizontal arms supportedadjacent said platform and substantially level with the boardtransporting conveyor, means to move said arms horizontally over theplatform toward and into close juxtaposition with the conveyor and tomove the arms away from the conveyor and from over the platform, stickerdispensing means mounted adjacent the platform, said arm moving meansoperable to move the arms beneath said dispensing means when they aremoved away from the conveyor, means to remove spacing sticks from saiddispensing means and deposit them on said arms, stop means positioned atthe end of said conveyor operable to engage boards on the conveyor andhold them against discharge therefrom whereby to gather a layer ofboards at the delivery end of the conveyor, means to lower said stopmeans to permit said layer of boards to be discharged onto, the stickscarried by said arms when the arms are moved into juxtaposition with theconveyor, and means to prevent said sticks from moving with the armswhen they are moved away from the conveyor whereby to deposit the sticksand the boards thereon on the platform as the arms are moved over theplatform.

6. Lumber stacking means comprising in combination with a boardtransporting conveyor having a delivery end, a framework mountedadjacent the delivery end of said conveyor, vertically movable stacksupporting means positioned between said frame and the conveyor, meansto raise and lower said vertically movable means, a plurality of spacingstick carrying arms mounted to said framework for movement toward andaway from the conveyor, means to move said arms toward the conveyor overthe vertically movable stack supporting means and away from saidconveyor and said stack supporting means, said arms being U-shaped incross section having horizontal web portions and spaced apart upstandingflanges thereon, spacing stick supply racks mounted in the framework,said arms moving beneath said racks when they are moved away from theconveyor, said racks having dispensing openings therein adjacent thebottoms thereof, and having slots in the bottoms thereof, said armshaving lug means mounted between the flanges and operable to enter saidslots in the racks and engage spacing'sticks on said racks and removesaid sticks through the dispensing openings when the arms are movedtoward the conveyor whereby to deposit said sticks on the arms betweenthe flanges and carry them over the stack supporting means, means togather boards on said conveyor into layers of boards and to transfersaid layers onto the arms over the spacing sticks, and pawl means on theframe over the arms operable to drop behind the spacing sticks carriedby the arms when the arms are moved over the stack supporting meanswhereby to prevent the sticks from moving with the arms as the arms aremoved away from the conveyor and deposit said sticks and the boardsthereon on the stack supporting means.

7. Lumber stacking means comprising, incombination with a boardtransporting conveyor, a stack receiving platform mounted at thedelivery end of said conveyor, means to raise and lower said platform, aframework adjacent said platform, spacing stick carrying means mountedinsaid framework for movement toward and away from said conveyor, means tomove said spacing stick carrying means toward the conveyor over theplatform, and to withdraw said spacing stick carrying means awayfromsaid conveyor and fiorn over the plat? carrying means, whereby'tobecarried over theplatforrla endless chain conveyor means mounted besidethe" conveyor. at the delivery end thereof and below the" boardtransporting surface thereof, first lug means on'said chaiii conveyormeans extending upwardly into the path of boards travelling on'the boardtransporting conveyor and operable to engage and stop boards travellingonth'e co'n veyor whereby to gather a layer of boards'together', secondlug means on said chain conveyor means spaced from said first lug'meansand operable on movement of the chain conveyor means to engage behindsaid layer of'board and move it onto the spacing sticks carried by saidcarrying means while the carrying means is extended over the platform,and means to engage the spacing sticks and prevent them from moving withthe carrying means when said means is withdrawn from over the platform,whereby to deposit said sticks and the boards thereon on the platform.

8. In a lumber sticking deviceincluding a vertically movable stacksupporting platform, a board conveyor,

- andmeans to receive layers of boards from the conveyor and depositthem on the platform, the improvementfin a :means for gathering boardson the conveyor into layers I and transferring said layers onto thereceiving and depositing means, comprising an endless chain, sprocketsmounting said chain at the delivery end of the conveyor, said chainhaving an upper flight extending parallel to tioned below the conveyor,and means to drive said chain whereby to move the first lug means belowthe conveyor and to move the second lug means up into the path of boardstravelling on the conveyor behind the layer of boards formed behind thefirst lug toengage said layer and move it off the delivery end of theconveyor onto'the layer receiving and depositing means.

9. Lumber stacking means comprising a stack receiving platform, aframework adjacent said platform, arm

means mounted in said framework for movement over the platform, means tomove said arm means over the platform and to withdraw said arm meansfrom over the platform, said arm means having means thereon forsupporting spacing sticks thereon whereby to carry said spacing sticksover the platform, board transferring means adjacent the platformoperable to transfer boards onto said arm means over the spacing stickssupported thereon when the arm means are extended over the platform, andmeans on the framework preventing the spacing sticks and boards fromwithdrawing from over the platform when the arm means are withdrawn,whereby to deposit said sticks and said boards on the platform when thearm means are withdrawn.

10. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination with a boardtransporting conveyor having a delivery end, a framework mountedadjacent the delivery end of said conveyor, vertically movable stacksupporting means positioned between said frame and the conveyor, meansto raise and lower said vertically movable means, a plurality of spacingstick carrying arms mounted to said framework for movement toward andaway from the conveyor, means to move said arms toward the conveyor overthe vertically movable stack supporting means and away from saidconveyor and said stack supporting means, spacing stick supply meansmounted on said framework,

' means operatively connected with said arms to remove spacing sticksfrom said supply means and deposit them on said arms as the arms aremoved toward the conveyor, said arms having raised portions at the sidesof the spacing sticks extending above the'sticksonly' along about a halfportion of the am most remote from the conveyor, means at said deliveryend of the conveyor operable to slide boards from the conveyor ovcrithesticks and over' the raised portions of said arms while the armsareextended over the stack supporting means, whereby part of a layer ofboards next to the conveyor rests upon the sticks while other boards ofthe layer rest on said raised portions of the arms, stop means ontheframework tlimv iting movement of boards toward the framework, andoperable to vertically align the edge of theboard .nearest the frameworkwith the corresponding edge of previously depositedebonrd llayersionsaid stack supporting. mean;

when the are withdrawn from beneath thesticks.

L o j1 z;ttfsiaa the near this patent fIUNIT fSTATES' PATENTS-2,sss,1ss' Mason June 10, 1958,

